FYI: http://www2.wsls.com/news/2010/oct/1...lle-ar-571329/

Local residents and prospective students will soon have the option of earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing in Danville.

On Monday morning, Averett University and Danville Regional Medical Center announced a partnership that would transition DRMC’s School of Nursing to Averett University.

Currently, Danville Regional offers a two-year registered nursing diploma program.

The new four-year program would build on Averett’s known liberal arts foundation. Danville Regional would still provide the clinical training at the hospital while Averett takes the educational lead.

“As Averett seeks to expand in the health care arena, we will be creating a pathway for educational opportunities and a pathway to jobs,” said Averett President Tiffany Franks.

Averett had been looking into offering the program for the past year and a half as the No. 1 most requested program that it didn’t offer was a nursing program, she said.

Not only could it help local residents earn a bachelor’s degree without leaving the area, it could also attract more students to the area who see a future in nursing.

About 89 percent of Averett science program graduates go on to allied health-care fields, she said.

Health care is a rapidly growing industry as the baby boomers leave the work force, Franks added. The program could also help to alleviate the nursing shortage.

Students currently enrolled in the DRMC program will be able to complete their degree. Danville Regional anticipates adding another class of students while the four-year program comes together.

CEO Eric Deaton said Danville Regional would continue to hire nurses that graduate from the local program. Yet, the program could also serve as a recruitment tool and draw more people to study, work and live in Danville, he said.

Deaton recognized the need to elevate the nursing degree.

“As we economically try and grow Danville, this is just one more way to enhance education to support the economic growth of the region,” Deaton said. “It can bring higher education to local people who are here plus draw people from the outside. So, I think it’s a win-win.”

The next step is for Averett to get all the necessary accreditation and approvals. The university would need to hire more faculty and renovate labs, Franks said. Classrooms would be at the 245 Gray St. location.

The nursing program would be the first step in looking at a range of opportunities, Franks added. More programs could be added in the future.

“We are moving forward,” Franks said.